Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video | | 3.0 |
| Audio | | 3.0 |
| Extras | | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 3.0 |
Captain Newman, M.D. Blu-ray Movie Review
Featuring a first-rate performance by Gregory Peck.
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard February 27, 2021
Captain Newman, M.D. is a war-time drama based on the novel by Leo Rosten. The film stars Gregory Peck (To Kill a
Mockingbird). Produced by Robert Arthur (Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Buccaneer's Girl), Captain Newman, M.D.
was a critical success upon release in 1963 and became nominated at the Academy Awards for three Oscars: Best Supporting
Actor
(Darin), Best Sound (Waldon O. Watson), and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) for Richard L. Breen, Phoebe Ephron, and Henry Ephron. An
intriguing character-drive piece, Captain Newman, M.D. is worth a watch.
The story of Captain Newman, M.D. explores the ins and outs of a military hospital psychiatric ward during World War II.
Captain Newman (Gregory Peck) works diligently in his attempts to help cure patients in the psychiatric ward who were affected by the war
– struggling to cope with their minds. Newman uses a unique sense of compassion to try and reach through to his patients. Can Newman
rescue these lost souls from their internal abyss?
At the heart of Captain Newman, M.D. is the performance by Gregory Peck. Peck's performance is one that makes the entire film more
worthwhile. There is a sense of grace and sophistication to Peck and he brings forth the best from both the screenplay and the production. While a
lesser performer might have made the filmmaking seem trite or mundane in comparison, Peck excels in the lead role and adds some star power.
Another performance of note is the supporting performance by Bobby Darin. Nominated at the Academy Awards, Darin delivers an impressive
performance which showcases subtle nuance and depth.
"Where is my Oscar nom?"
The cinematography by Russell Metty (Spartacus, The Omega Man) is respectable and manages to enhance the filmmaking to
a degree. While not the finest hour for Metty, Captain Newman, M.D., nonetheless, the film has some interesting visuals. The style
is grounded in reality more-so than Hollywood productions sometimes achieve.
One element of the film that made a mark was the music score composed by Frank Skinner (Arabian Nights, The
House of the Seven Gables). The original score adds a sense of dramatic flair to events within the story. The characters seem to be enlivened
with dramatic themes. The score never swells with energy like one would find in an action-adventure movie, but the dramatic-backbone of the
filmmaking is given subtle nuance through the compositions of Skinner. It makes for a uniquely compelling component of the production.
The editing by Alma Macrorie (The Trouble with Harry, To Each His Own) is one of the disappointing elements of the overall
production. Though Alma Macrorie has done a fantastic job editing other films, Captain Newman, M.D. is over-long at times and seems like
it lacks perfect focus. The film has good components but it could have used some extra trimming of fat. The cut simply isn't as lean as desired and
could perhaps have benefited from being 15-20 minutes shorter.
Featuring art direction by Alexander Golitzen (Foreign Correspondent, Touch of Evil) and Alfred Sweeney (The Tarnished
Angels, Moment to Moment), Captain Newman, M.D. excels in this department. The sets and locations are well suited
to the storyline. There is a sense of genuine believably to the production aesthetics which seems to add to the war-time flavor of the story.
Impressive.
The screenplay by Richard L. Breen (A Foreign Affair, State Fair), Phoebe Ephron (There's No Business Like Show
Business, Daddy Long Legs), and Henry Ephron (What Price Glory, Belles on Their Toes) is one of the
strong points of the film. The dialogue is well-written and seems genuine. These characters are given some depth. It is understandable why the film
was nominated for the Academy Award: the character-dialogue is reason enough to understand. The story is compelling throughout (even if it
sometimes feels dated by modern standards).
Directed by David Miller (Midnight Lace, Twist of Fate), Captain Newman, M.D. is worth checking out. The direction is
old-fashioned in a compelling way. Sequences are explored through a unique creative lens. Miller brings forth solid performances (especially from
Peck and Darin). Though I sometimes found the editing to feel a little bit uneven (and Miller could have reigned in the whole production a little bit
more), there is plenty to like about Captain Newman, M.D. and the story it tells.
Captain Newman, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Captain Newman, M.D. is presented in1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original
theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The scan looks rather dated by modern standards. The film could have used a sparkling new 4K
restoration. The presentation lacks the kind of finesse one would hope to see for a film with so many Oscar noms underneath its belt. Color
reproduction seems acceptable but never exceptional. The print shows occasional wear and could look a bit more robust at times. There aren't any
moments of egregious damage to the print (such as tears, warps, and other serious deficiencies) but it's also an average-at-best presentation at times.
Captain Newman, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio track is acceptable for the presentation. Dialogue remains clear and
easy to understand. Fidelity sounds a bit less robust than one might hope to find and it could have used some extra restoration. Even so, Captain
Newman, M.D. is never too garish sounding and the track doesn't have any significant issues to report (such as warps, pops, clicks, and hiss).
Optional English subtitles are provided.
Captain Newman, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
Captain Newman, M.D. Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:20)
The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: On the Beach
(SD, 4:46), Night People (HD, 2:49), The Great Imposter (SD, 2:26), The Perfect Furlough (SD, 2:37), The Art of Love
(HD, 2:47), Sam Whiskey (HD, 2:25), Midnight Lace (SD, 2:43), and Lonely Are the Brave (SD, 00:54).
Captain Newman, M.D. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Captain Newman, M.D. features strong performances by Gregory Peck and Bobby Darin. These stirring performances are reason
enough to see the film. The war-time drama unfolds with a unique approach to telling this complex tale. Though the Blu-ray release features an average
video-audio presentation and it could have benefited from more restoration efforts, it is still certainly watchable. Fans of Captain Newman,
M.D.
should consider a purchase. Recommended.
